Pottery setter



March 23, 1943. F, V- wlND I POTTERY SETTERS Filed April fr, 1941 hnl/vx MRO l l l f, n n 7 n n n 8 a n l w e a 0 m z 2 l lq 'Il Il l n l l f l v 9 hg. Z-

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4also be used between the setter elements.

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POTTERY SETTER. Fred V. Wind, Los Angeles, Calif'., assignor to Pacific Clay Products Company, Los Angeles,

Calif., a corporation of California Application April 7, 1941, Serial No. .383,253

claims. (c1. .z5-15s) This invention relates to the art of firing ceramic ware in kilns and in particular to a pottery setter.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a support for pottery during iring.r Another which forms a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of an assembly of pottery setters showing ne form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation showing another form of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a single setter as used in the assembly of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, red ceramic ware v support elements II have an outer portion I2, usually cylindrical, with means on the upper and lower edges to engage and align the individual elements into vertical assemblies as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In Figs. 1 and 2, the engaging and aligning means consists of a tongue' I3 on the upper edge and a corresponding groove I4 on the lower` edge of the outer cylindrical portion I2. The

tongue and groove elements may, of course, be

reversed if desired. A bell and spigot joint may As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower edge of the cylindrical portion I2 is ofi-set inwardly to form' the seat I5 in which rests the upper edge I6 of the next lower setter element Extending inwardly from the inside wall of the outer portion I2 of the support or setter, is an integral ledge Il upon whose top surface is provided a raised edge or bead I8, forming a circular template which is adapted Ato extend slightly into the lip of the ceramic article being supported for firing. The top surface of the ledge is preferably level and smooth, except for this raised edge I8, so that, as the mouth of the ceramic article contracts in ring, it is not restrained until it contacts the raised edge I8, which then holds the mouth or lip to the desired symmetrical shape and size. The burned articles are therefore more uniform in size ally are if notthusasupported.

Theparticular assemblyrshown in 'Figsl and 2, is especially designed for the firing vof cups .I9 with handles 20. In order to conserve space, as well as extra weight ofkiln-furniture, the handles are allowed to protrude throughslots 2| made `in the outer vportion of the Setters above the supportingfledge.

Additional savings `in the weight of kiln furni- .tureor Setters, and inlincrea-sed productive space in-the when nestable Wareiszbeing fired, may be attained bymaking the outer portion I2'offmy Setters 'of less height than the height of the ceramic article to be fired. Thisis shown in Fig. 3, in which bowls 49a are set, inverted, upon the ledges I8, with the bottom rpart of each bowl eX- ytending vupwardly Ithrough the opening -of the Aledge of the superposed setter, within Athe :bowl supportedbyits ledge. This permits iiring lmore ceramick articles `in'a stack fof given height, and increases the eiiiciency of the operation and the output of the-equipment, as well as providing support means which rreduce thefrejections of burned ware becauseof distortion and .unequal shrinkage. The ceramic -support ele-ments, or setters, .are

.of course,previously fired, and .their composition is selected to permit use at the temperatures required for firing the bisque or pottery articles. They may be made by jiggering, casting, pressing, or by other suitable methods.

After the ring, the assemblies of Setters and fired articles are taken apart, and the Setters may be reused.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is clear that it may be ca rried out with various modifications and changes, and I do not wish to be restricted except as required by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

rI claim:`

1. In a vertically aligned assembly of a plu-` rality of superposed ceramic Ware support elements and a plurality of unred bowl-like ceramic articles, a ceramic ware support element comprising an outer portion dening a space to contain said article, said outer portion having means on its top and bottom edges to engage and align it with similar elements above and below it in the assembly, and said outer portion also having an integral ledge extending inwardlyv from its inner wall adapted to support thef-in-r verted article on itslip, said ledge being provided with an integral raised ring edge on its topsurface adapted to project into vthe mouth of the space to encompass said article but of less height than the ceramic article, said outer portion have ing means on its top and bottom edges to engage,A

and align it with similar elements aboveand below it in the assembly; and saidvv outerportion also having an integral ledge extending inwardly I from its inner wall adapted to support the inverted article on its lip, said ledge being provided with an integral raised ring edge on its top sur- -face 'adapted to project into the mouth of the ceramic article and to closely. fit said mouth at the maturing temperature wherebyto hold its lip to prevent unsymmetrical shrinkage thereof dur-l ing firing.

3. In a vertically aligned assembly of a plurality of Superposed ceramic ware supportelements and a plurality of unred bowl-like ceramic articles adaptable for at least-'partial nest'- in'g,'in which assembly each article is partly enclosed in two adjacent elements, a ceramic ware support element comprising anV outer portiondeningfa yspace .to encompass-said article but 'of Iless-height than the ceramic article, said outer ,portion having means on its 'top and bottom edges-to engage and align it with similar elements. above and below it in theassembly; and said -outer portion also having anintegral ledge extending inwardly from its-.inner wall adapted to support the inverted article on its lip, the ine -side diameter of said ledge being great enough to permit the article partly contained in the support vbelow to protrude therethrough, said ledge being-provided with an integral raisedA ring edge on'its -top surface adapted to Vproject into the mouth -of the ceramic article-andto closely t -said mouth at the maturing temperature whereby to hold its lip to prevent unsymmetrical shrinkage thereof during ring.

4. In a vertically aligned assembly of a plurality of superposed ceramic ware support elements and a plurality of unfired bowl-like ceramic articles adaptable for at least partial nestlng, in which assembly each article is partly enclosed in two adjacent elements, a ceramic ware support element comprising an outer portion dening a space to encompass said article but of less height than the ceramic article, said outer portion having means on its top and bottom edges to engage and align it with similar elements above and below it in the assembly; and said outer portion also having an integral ledge extending inwardly from its inner wall adapted to support the inverted article on its lip, the inside diameter 0f said ledge being great enough to permit the article partly contained in thesupport below to protrude therethrough, said ledge having anv integral raised edge on its top surface adapted to project into and closely nt the mouth of an inverted bowl-like ceramic article whereby to prevent unsymmetrical shrinkage of said ceramic article. l

5. In a vertically aligned assembly of a plurality -of superposed red ceramic ware support elements and a plurality of unred bowl-like ceramic articles adaptable for at least partial nest` ing, in which assembly each article is partly enf closed bytwo adjacent elements, a ceramic ware support element comprising an outer cylindrical portion defining a space of greater diameter and less height than the ceramic article, said outer portion at its top edge being offset to form a telescopingjoint with the outer portion of the supportelement` next above, and having an integral ledge extending inwardly from said cylindrical portion from a position above the telescoping joint with the support elementimmediately below, said ledge having an integral raisededge on its top surface adapted to project into and closely t the mouth of said inverted bowl-like ceramic article whereby to prevent unsymmetrical warpage of said ceramic article.

FRED V. W IND` 

